Who painted Rest during the Flight to Egypt?

Rest during the Flight to Egypt was painted by Joachim Patinir in 1518-01-01.

Where can I see Rest during the Flight to Egypt?

Rest during the Flight to Egypt is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Rest during the Flight to Egypt?

Rest during the Flight to Egypt is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Rest during the Flight to Egypt?

Museum-quality prints of Rest during the Flight to Egypt are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Rest during the Flight to Egypt by Joachim Patinir (1518)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Joachim Patinir's work illustrates the biblical episode of the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, a moment of respite for the Holy Family during their escape.

Joachim Patinir's work illustrates the biblical episode of the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, a moment of respite for the Holy Family during their escape. The composition integrates specific narrative and symbolic elements within a religious framework, featuring depictions of body armor, a combat helmet, a shield, and a bridge alongside a container. These martial objects likely serve as iconographic contrasts to the sacred figures, juxtaposing the violence of the earthly realm with the divine protection afforded to the travelers.

The inclusion of such detailed accessories underscores the painting's function as a devotional image that merges landscape storytelling with theological meaning.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, measuring 121 cm in height and 177 cm in width. It belongs to the religious genre and was created in 1518 by Joachim Patinir, who employed oil pigments on panel as his support. The composition depicts the Holy Family in a moment of rest during their flight, rendered with the chiaroscuro and landscape treatment typical of early sixteenth‑century Netherlandish practice.

The surface shows a smooth application of oil paint, indicating careful handling during its creation. It has remained in the collection of the Museo del Prado since its acquisition.

History & Provenance

Joachim Patinir executed the oil painting Rest during the Flight to Egypt on a wooden panel between 1518 and 1519. The work depicts the biblical subject of the Holy Family's respite, incorporating detailed background elements such as bridges and military equipment including body armor and helmets. While specific details regarding the original commission or early ownership history are not provided in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains part of the museum's religious art holdings.

The painting Rest during the Flight to Egypt by Joachim Patinir is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Executed in oil on panel, the work measures 121 cm in height and 177 cm in width. While internal records date the piece to 1518, other documentation suggests an inception range spanning 1518 to 1519.

The provided sources confirm the artwork's current location and physical dimensions but do not list specific inventory numbers or detail any past exhibitions.

Overview

Rest during the Flight to Egypt, painted by Joachim Patinir in 1518, is a quintessential example of early Netherlandish landscape painting where the natural setting dominates the religious narrative. The work depicts the Holy Family pausing during their escape to Egypt, a subject that serves primarily as a pretext for the artist to construct a panoramic world. Mary is seated on a rocky outcrop in the foreground, holding the infant Jesus, while Joseph stands nearby, often depicted with a staff or leading a donkey.

The composition utilizes a high horizon line and a bird's-eye view, allowing the viewer to survey a vast, winding landscape that recedes into atmospheric distance. Patinir employs his characteristic color progression, shifting from warm earth tones in the foreground to cool blues and grays in the background to create depth. A winding path leads the eye through rolling hills, dense forests, and a distant village, illustrating the artist's innovation in elevating landscape from a backdrop to the primary subject.

This painting, executed in oil on panel, solidifies Patinir's reputation as one of the first independent landscape painters in Western art history, blending devotional imagery with a profound observation of the natural world.